Human Services

The COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program Phase II (CVERAP Phase II) will provide rental arrears and temporary rental assistance to low- and moderate-income households that have had a substantial reduction in income, have qualified for unemployment benefits, incurred significant costs, or experienced a financial hardship due, directly, or indirectly, to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Emergency Rental Assistance for Arrears: Applicants may be eligible for up to a maximum of twelve months of emergency rental assistance to help pay for rent arrears and future rent to the extent that funds are available. Families that have already received CVERAP funding through Phase I of the program, that need additional rent support, and have not yet received the maximum twelve months of emergency rental assistance can apply for additional funding.

Emergency Rental Assistance for Current and Future Rents: Financial assistance is limited to three months based on application submitted, except that the household may receive additional assistance for additional months subject to the availability of remaining funds and eligibility, not to exceed 12 months (plus an additional three months if necessary to ensure housing stability).

Persons applying must meet all applicable CVERAP Phase II income and eligibility requirements. You must be eighteen (18) years of age or older to apply or be an emancipated minor. Only one (1) application per household will be accepted. Applications will be accepted until enough applications have been received to ensure distribution of all available CVERAP Phase II funds. A computerized selection (lottery) process will be used to select residents who have been impacted by COVID-19 for eligibility determination.

Eligibility Criteria: Selected households must meet the following eligibility criteria to qualify for assistance:

• Qualify for unemployment or have experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced a financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to the COVID-19 pandemic;
• Demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability;
• Have a household income at or below 80 percent of the area median income (please see income limits below);
• Have a lack of assets and savings to pay rent arrears or current and future rent;
• Be a New Jersey resident; and
• Obligated to pay rent on a residential dwelling.

The program will only pay for rent arrears incurred after March 13, 2020.

Property managers or owners of a residential dwelling may apply for assistance on behalf of a tenant. The landlord must:

• Obtain the signature of the tenant on the application, which may be documented electronically; and
• Must provide documentation of the application to the tenant to notify the tenant that the application has been submitted. 

We’ve partnered with Atlantic Health to provide limited no cost flu shots to homebound senior and adults with disabilities.

To qualify, you must be

• a Morris County resident
• homebound
• age 60 or age 18-59 with a disability.

To request an appointment for a flu shot, call Solangel Patarroyo at 973-971-7259 or email Solangel.Patarroyo@atlantichealth.org.

County residents are advised to watch out for the following scams during the COVID-19 pandemic:

• Contact tracing. Criminal scammers pretend to be contact tracers. The scammers send messages to potential victims saying they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19/coronavirus and need to click a link to learn more.
• Bail bond. A scammer will call a potential victim and say her or his grandchild has been arrested and ask for money for the child’s release. This type of scam is particularly dangerous, as the criminal will attempt to collect the money in person,  directly from the victim.
• IRS scams. A scammer will call a potential victim and say they owe the government money and face being arrested if they do not pay.
• Stimulus checks. Scammers are calling and/or emailing individuals claiming to be from the Treasury Department, and offering expedited payments or assistance with obtaining an Economic Impact Payment.

The New Jersey Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services has implemented new changes to its online portal to apply for all Medicaid programs. As of January 1, 2020, anyone needing to apply for Medicaid should apply directly to NJ Family Care. This new portal will allow participants to complete their Medicaid application online and upload required documents via smartphone, tablet or PC. Participants can easily check on the status of their Medicaid application online as well as receive electronic notifications.

To utilize this portal, participants must be able to provide an email address at the time of application. It is estimated that the application can be completed in 10 minutes. Although participants can still visit our local offices to complete their Medicaid application, we encourage participants to utilize the new portal as it should result in a quicker processing of your case.

The Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Division of Aging Services has launched NJSave, a new online application to help older residents with low-incomes and individuals with disabilities save money on Medicare premiums, prescription costs, and other living expenses.

NJSave allows individuals to use a single online application to check their eligibility for various savings and assistance programs, such as Medicare Savings Programs, which help eligible individuals pay their Medicare premiums and copays; New Jersey’s Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD), which helps save money on prescription drug costs; and the Lifeline Utility Assistance Program.

Access NJSave today! Get more information from the New Jersey Division of Aging Services.